Autorama Extreme 1953 - 2011 Detroit Autorama

One of the many cool portions of the Detroit Autorama is the hidden gem located in the basement of Cobo Hall known as Autorama Extreme 1953. It’s a place where traditional hot rodding lives in a world unaffected by time.

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Taking the long escalator ride down to the basement, you get treated to visual overload looking through a wall of glass welcoming you to row upon row of classic hop-ups and customs as far as you can see. Entering through the main doors, it’s easy to sense a change in the vibe between the floors since culture rules this region. You won’t find lush displays or flashing lights as you make your way across the floor. However, you will find stoke designs displaying themselves on weathered concrete floors with minimal stanchions so as not to detract from their vintage feel. The team at Autorama decided years ago to transform the 100,000-square-foot room into a place traditional car owners could call their own, complete with enough area to support well over 200 of the hottest vehicles around. With the tuners now gone from the once-shared floor space, your eyes were treated to a cultural extravaganza where hammered coupes mix it up with slammed sleds, wicked roadsters, devilish bobbers, and choppers. You could have easily spent hours meeting up with old friends and making new ones while strolling through an expanded artist’s alley where 19 artists, including Keith Weesner, Ed Tillrock, Josh Welton, and Chad Lampert, were showcasing their work. Add in a bevy of kustom kulture vendors, vintage parts for sale, and a classy pin-up model competition and you have the makings for a memorable visit. Searing sets by the Swingin’ Demons and Twistin’ Tarantulas who were determined to shake the tiles from the ceiling, and an award ceremony featuring handmade trophies handed out by some of the industry’s top names recognizing many amazing talents makes this weekend party tough to beat. All we know is this is one facet of the show that keeps getting better and better every year.